82_FR_10909 82 FR 10878 - Certain Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Products From the People's Republic of China and From Taiwan: Preliminary Results of Changed Circumstances Reviews, and Intent To Revoke Antidumping Duty Orders and Countervailing Duty Order in Part

82 FR 10878 - Certain Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Products From the People's Republic of China and From Taiwan: Preliminary Results of Changed Circumstances Reviews, and Intent To Revoke Antidumping Duty Orders and Countervailing Duty Order in Part

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 31 (February 16, 2017)

Page Range10878-10880
FR Document2017-03142

On April 20, 2016, the Department of Commerce (the ``Department'') received a request for revocation, in part, of the antidumping duty (``AD'') and countervailing duty (``CVD'') orders on certain crystalline silicon photovoltaic products from the People's Republic of China (``PRC'') and the AD order on certain crystalline silicon photovoltaic products from Taiwan (collectively ``Orders'') with respect to certain solar panels. We preliminarily determine that the producers accounting for substantially all of the production of the domestic like product to which the Orders pertain lack interest in the relief provided by the Orders with respect to certain solar panels that are incorporated in the battery charging and maintaining units described below. Accordingly, we intend to revoke, in part, the Orders as to imports of certain solar panels that are incorporated in the battery charging and maintaining units, as described below. The Department invites interested parties to comment on these preliminary results.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 31 (Thursday, February 16, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 31 (Thursday, February 16, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10878-10880]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03142]



[[Page 10878]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-010, C-570-011, A-583-853]


Certain Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Products From the 
People's Republic of China and From Taiwan: Preliminary Results of 
Changed Circumstances Reviews, and Intent To Revoke Antidumping Duty 
Orders and Countervailing Duty Order in Part

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: On April 20, 2016, the Department of Commerce (the 
``Department'') received a request for revocation, in part, of the 
antidumping duty (``AD'') and countervailing duty (``CVD'') orders on 
certain crystalline silicon photovoltaic products from the People's 
Republic of China (``PRC'') and the AD order on certain crystalline 
silicon photovoltaic products from Taiwan (collectively ``Orders'') 
with respect to certain solar panels. We preliminarily determine that 
the producers accounting for substantially all of the production of the 
domestic like product to which the Orders pertain lack interest in the 
relief provided by the Orders with respect to certain solar panels that 
are incorporated in the battery charging and maintaining units 
described below. Accordingly, we intend to revoke, in part, the Orders 
as to imports of certain solar panels that are incorporated in the 
battery charging and maintaining units, as described below. The 
Department invites interested parties to comment on these preliminary 
results.

DATES: Effective February 16, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Magd Zalok or Howard Smith, AD/CVD 
Operations, Office IV, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-4162 or (202) 482-5193, 
respectively.

Background

    On February 18, 2015, the Department published an AD order on 
crystalline silicon photovoltaic products from Taiwan, and AD and CVD 
orders on crystalline silicon photovoltaic products from the PRC in the 
Federal Register.\1\ On April 20, 2016, the Department received a 
request on behalf of PulseTech Products Corporation (``PulseTech'') for 
changed circumstances reviews to revoke, in part, the Orders with 
respect to certain stand-alone solar panels and certain solar panels 
incorporated in a specific type of battery charging and maintaining 
unit.\2\ In subsequent submissions filed between May 12, 2016, and 
September 2, 2016, PulseTech modified the description of the exclusion 
request for solar panels incorporated in battery charging and 
maintaining units. On September 6, 2016, SolarWorld Americas, Inc. 
(``Petitioner'') stated that it agrees with the scope exclusion 
language proposed by PulseTech.\3\ Ultimately, Pulsetech withdrew its 
request for changed circumstances reviews with respect to the stand-
alone solar panels not incorporated in battery charging and maintaining 
units.\4\
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    \1\ See Certain Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Products from 
the People's Republic of China: Antidumping Duty Order; and Amended 
Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and 
Countervailing Duty Order, 80 FR 8592 (Feb. 18, 2015); see also 
Certain Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Products From Taiwan: 
Antidumping Duty Order, 80 FR 8596 (Feb. 18, 2015).
    \2\ See April 20, 2016 letter from PulseTech Products 
Corporation Re: Resubmission of Requests for Changed Circumstances 
Review--Certain Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Products from the 
People's Republic of China and from Taiwan (``PulseTech's 
Request'').
    \3\ See September 6, 2016 letter from Petitioner Re: Certain 
Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Products from the People's Republic 
of China and Taiwan: Changed Circumstances Review Request--Letter of 
No Opposition.
    \4\ See PulseTech's October 28, 2016 submission.
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    On November 2, 2016, the Department published the notice of 
initiation of the requested changed circumstances reviews.\5\ Because 
the statement submitted by Petitioner in support of PulseTech's Request 
did not indicate whether Petitioner accounts for substantially all of 
the domestic production of crystalline silicon photovoltaic products, 
in the Initiation Notice, we invited interested parties to submit 
comments concerning industry support for the potential revocation, in 
part, as well as comments and/or factual information regarding the 
changed circumstances reviews. No comments or factual information were 
submitted by any party.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ See Certain Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Products from 
the People's Republic of China and from Taiwan: Notice of Initiation 
of Changed Circumstances Reviews, and Consideration of Revocation of 
the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders in Part, 81 FR 78967 
(Nov. 10, 2016) (``Initiation Notice'').
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Scope of the AD and CVD Orders on Certain Crystalline Silicon 
Photovoltaic Products From the PRC

    The merchandise covered by these orders are modules, laminates and/
or panels consisting of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether 
or not partially or fully assembled into other products, including 
building integrated materials. For purposes of these orders, subject 
merchandise includes modules, laminates and/or panels assembled in the 
PRC consisting of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells produced in a 
customs territory other than the PRC.
    Subject merchandise includes modules, laminates and/or panels 
assembled in the PRC consisting of crystalline silicon photovoltaic 
cells of thickness equal to or greater than 20 micrometers, having a p/
n junction formed by any means, whether or not the cell has undergone 
other processing, including, but not limited to, cleaning, etching, 
coating, and/or addition of materials (including, but not limited to, 
metallization and conductor patterns) to collect and forward the 
electricity that is generated by the cell.
    Excluded from the scope of these orders are thin film photovoltaic 
products produced from amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride 
(CdTe), or copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS). Also excluded from 
the scope of these orders are modules, laminates and/or panels 
assembled in the PRC, consisting of crystalline silicon photovoltaic 
cells, not exceeding 10,000 mm\2\ in surface area, that are permanently 
integrated into a consumer good whose function is other than power 
generation and that consumes the electricity generated by the 
integrated crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells. Where more than one 
module, laminate and/or panel is permanently integrated into a consumer 
good, the surface area for purposes of this exclusion shall be the 
total combined surface area of all modules, laminates and/or panels 
that are integrated into the consumer good. Further, also excluded from 
the scope of these orders are any products covered by the existing 
antidumping and countervailing duty orders on crystalline silicon 
photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into modules, laminates 
and/or panels, from the PRC.\6\
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    \6\ See Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not 
Assembled into Modules, from the People's Republic of China: Amended 
Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, and 
Antidumping Duty Order, 77 FR 73018 (Dec. 7, 2012); Crystalline 
Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled into Modules, 
from the People's Republic of China: Countervailing Duty Order, 77 
FR 73017 (Dec. 7, 2012).
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    Merchandise covered by these orders is currently classified in the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (``HTSUS'') under 
subheadings 8501.61.0000, 8507.20.8030, 8507.20.8040, 8507.20.8060, 
8507.20.8090, 8541.40.6020, 8541.40.6030, and

[[Page 10879]]

8501.31.8000. These HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and 
customs purposes; the written description of the scope of this order is 
dispositive.

Scope of the AD Order on Certain Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic 
Products From Taiwan

    The merchandise covered by this order is crystalline silicon 
photovoltaic cells, and modules, laminates and/or panels consisting of 
crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not partially or 
fully assembled into other products, including building integrated 
materials.
    Subject merchandise includes crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells 
of thickness equal to or greater than 20 micrometers, having a p/n 
junction formed by any means, whether or not the cell has undergone 
other processing, including but not limited to, cleaning, etching, 
coating, and/or addition of materials (including, but not limited to, 
metallization and conductor patterns) to collect and forward the 
electricity that is generated by the cell.
    Modules, laminates, and panels produced in a third-country from 
cells produced in Taiwan are covered by this order. However, modules, 
laminates, and panels produced in Taiwan from cells produced in third-
country are not covered by this order.
    Excluded from the scope of this order are thin film photovoltaic 
products produced from amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride 
(CdTe), or copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS). Also excluded from 
the scope of this order are crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, not 
exceeding 10,000 mm\2\ in surface area, that are permanently integrated 
into a consumer good whose function is other than power generation and 
that consumes the electricity generated by the integrated crystalline 
silicon photovoltaic cells. Where more than one cell is permanently 
integrated into a consumer good, the surface area for purposes of this 
exclusion shall be the total combined surface area of all cells that 
are integrated into the consumer good.
    Further, also excluded from the scope of this order are any 
products covered by the existing antidumping and countervailing duty 
orders on crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not 
assembled into modules, from the PRC.\7\ Also excluded from the scope 
of this order are modules, laminates, and panels produced in the PRC 
from crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells produced in Taiwan that are 
covered by an existing proceeding on such modules, laminates, and 
panels from the PRC.
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    \7\ See Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not 
Assembled into Modules, from the People's Republic of China: Amended 
Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, and 
Antidumping Duty Order, 77 FR 73018 (Dec. 7, 2012); Crystalline 
Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled into Modules, 
from the People's Republic of China: Countervailing Duty Order, 77 
FR 73017 (Dec. 7, 2012).
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    Merchandise covered by this order are currently classified in the 
HTSUS under subheadings 8501.61.0000, 8507.20.8030, 8507.20.8040, 
8507.20.8060, 8507.20.8090, 8541.40.6020, 8541.40.6030, and 
8501.31.8000. These HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and 
customs purposes; the written description of the scope of this order is 
dispositive.

Scope of Changed Circumstances Reviews

    PulseTech requests that the Department revoke the Orders, in part, 
to exclude certain solar panels incorporated in battery charging and 
maintaining units, as described below. The solar panels subject to 
PulseTech's request are:

    (1) Less than 300,000 mm\2\ in surface area; (2) less than 27.1 
watts in power; (3) coated across their entire surface with a 
polyurethane doming resin; and (4) joined to a battery charging and 
maintaining unit (which is an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene 
(``ABS'') box that incorporates a light emitting diode (``LED'')) by 
coated wires that include a connector to permit the incorporation of 
an extension cable. The battery charging and maintaining unit 
utilizes high-frequency triangular pulse waveforms designed to 
maintain and extend the life of batteries through the reduction of 
lead sulfate crystals. The above-described battery charging and 
maintaining unit is currently available under the registered 
trademark ``SolarPulse.''

Preliminary Results of Changed Circumstances Reviews, and Intent To 
Revoke the Orders, in Part

    Pursuant to section 751(d)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended 
(the ``Act''), and 19 CFR 351.222(g), the Department may revoke an AD 
or CVD order, in whole or in part, based on a review under section 
751(b) of the Act (i.e., a changed circumstances review). Section 
751(b)(1) of the Act requires a changed circumstances review to be 
conducted upon receipt of a request which shows changed circumstances 
sufficient to warrant a review. Section 782(h)(2) of the Act gives the 
Department the authority to revoke an order if producers accounting for 
substantially all of the production of the domestic like product have 
expressed a lack of interest in the order. Section 351.222(g) of the 
Department's regulations provides that the Department will conduct a 
changed circumstances review under 19 CFR 351.216, and may revoke an 
order (in whole or in part), if it concludes that: (i) Producers 
accounting for substantially all of the production of the domestic like 
product to which the order pertains have expressed a lack of interest 
in the relief provided by the order, in whole or in part; or (ii) if 
other changed circumstances sufficient to warrant revocation exist. 
Both the Act and the Department's regulations require that 
``substantially all'' domestic producers express a lack of interest in 
the order for the Department to revoke the order, in whole or in 
part.\8\ The Department has interpreted ``substantially all'' to 
represent producers accounting for at least 85 percent of U.S. 
production of the domestic like product.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ See section 782(h) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.222(g).
    \9\ See Honey from Argentina; Antidumping and Countervailing 
Duty Changed Circumstances Reviews; Preliminary Intent to Revoke 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders, 77 FR 67790, 67791 
(November 14, 2012), unchanged in Honey From Argentina; Final 
Results of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Changed Circumstances 
Reviews; Revocation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders, 
77 FR 77029 (December 31, 2012).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Department's regulations do not specify a deadline for the 
issuance of the preliminary results of a changed circumstances review, 
but provide that the Department will issue the final results of review 
within 270 days after the date on which the changed circumstances 
review is initiated.\10\ The Department did not issue a combined notice 
of initiation and preliminary results. As discussed above, the 
statement provided by Petitioner and offered in support of PulseTech's 
Request did not indicate whether Petitioner accounts for substantially 
all domestic production of certain crystalline silicon photovoltaic 
products.\11\ Thus, the Department did not determine in the Initiation 
Notice that producers accounting for substantially all of the 
production of the domestic like product lacked interest in the 
continued application of the Orders as to the certain solar panels 
under consideration here. Further, the Department requested interested 
party comments on the issue of domestic industry support of a potential 
partial revocation of the Orders.\12\ The

[[Page 10880]]

Department received no comments concerning a lack of industry support 
with respect to these changed circumstances reviews.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ 19 CFR 351.216(e).
    \11\ See Initiation Notice.
    \12\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As noted in the Initiation Notice, PulseTech requested revocation 
of the Orders, in part, and supported its request. In light of 
PulseTech's Request, Petitioner's agreement with the scope exclusion 
language proposed by PulseTech, and in the absence of any interested 
party comments received during the comment period, we preliminarily 
conclude that changed circumstances warrant revocation of the Orders, 
in part, because the producers accounting for substantially all of the 
production of the domestic like product to which the Orders pertain 
lack interest in the relief provided by the Orders with respect to 
certain solar panels incorporated in battery charging and maintaining 
units, as described above. We will consider comments from interested 
parties on these preliminary results of reviews before issuing the 
final results of these reviews.\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ See, e.g., Honey from Argentina; Antidumping and 
Countervailing Duty Changed Circumstances Reviews; Preliminary 
Intent to Revoke Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders, 77 FR 
67790, 67791 (November 14, 2012); Aluminum Extrusions from the 
People's Republic of China: Preliminary Results of Changed 
Circumstances Reviews, and Intent to Revoke Antidumping and 
Countervailing Duty Orders in Part, 78 FR 66895 (November 7, 2013); 
see also 19 CFR 351.222(g)(1)(v).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Accordingly, we are notifying the public of our intent to revoke 
the Orders, in part. We intend to carry out this revocation by 
including the following exclusion language in the scope of each of the 
Orders:

    Additionally, excluded from the scope of the order are solar 
panels that are: (1) Less than 300,000 mm\2\ in surface area; (2) 
less than 27.1 watts in power; (3) coated across their entire 
surface with a polyurethane doming resin; and (4) joined to a 
battery charging and maintaining unit (which is an acrylonitrile 
butadiene styrene (``ABS'') box that incorporates a light emitting 
diode (``LED'')) by coated wires that include a connector to permit 
the incorporation of an extension cable. The battery charging and 
maintaining unit utilizes high-frequency triangular pulse waveforms 
designed to maintain and extend the life of batteries through the 
reduction of lead sulfate crystals. The above-described battery 
charging and maintaining unit is currently available under the 
registered trademark ``SolarPulse.''

    If we make a final determination to revoke the Orders in part, then 
the Department will apply this determination to each order as follows. 
If, at the time of the final determinations, there have been no 
completed administrative reviews of an order, then the partial 
revocation will be applied to unliquidated entries of merchandise 
subject to the changed circumstances review that were entered or 
withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption, on or after the date that 
corresponds to the date suspension of liquidation first began in the 
relevant proceeding.\14\ If, at the time of the final determinations, 
there have been completed administrative reviews of an order, then the 
partial revocation will be retroactively applied to unliquidated 
entries of merchandise subject to the changed circumstances reviews 
that were entered or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption, on or 
after the day following the last day of the period covered by the most 
recently completed administrative review of the applicable order. 
Specifically, under this scenario, the partial revocation for 
merchandise subject to the AD orders would be applied retroactively to 
unliquidated entries of merchandise entered or withdrawn from 
warehouse, for consumption, on or after February 1, 2016, and the 
partial revocation for merchandise subject to the CVD order would be 
applied retroactively to unliquidated entries of merchandise entered or 
withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption, on or after January 1, 2016, 
as applicable.
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    \14\ Suspension of liquidation first began for merchandise 
subject to the CVD order on June 10, 2014; suspension of liquidation 
first began for merchandise subject to the AD orders on July 31, 
2014.
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Public Comment

    Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary 
results of reviews in accordance with 19 CFR 351.309(c)(1)(ii). Case 
briefs may be submitted no later than 14 days after the date of 
publication of these preliminary results.\15\ Rebuttals to case briefs, 
limited to issues raised in the case briefs, may be filed no later than 
seven days after the due date for case briefs.\16\ All submissions must 
be filed electronically using Enforcement and Compliance's AD and CVD 
Centralized Electronic Service System (``ACCESS''). ACCESS is available 
to registered users at http://access.trade.gov and in the Central 
Records Unit, room B8024 of the main Department of Commerce building. 
An electronically filed document must be received successfully in its 
entirety by ACCESS, by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the day it is due.
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    \15\ The Department is altering the deadline for the submission 
of case briefs, as authorized by 19 CFR 351.309(c)(1)(ii).
    \16\ The Department is altering the deadline for the submission 
of rebuttal briefs, as authorized by 19 CFR 351.309(d)(1).
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    Any interested party may request a hearing within 14 days of 
publication of this notice.\17\ Hearing requests should contain the 
following information: (1) The party's name, address, and telephone 
number; (2) the number of participants; and (3) a list of the issues to 
be discussed. Oral presentations at the hearing will be limited to 
issues raised in the briefs. If a request for a hearing is made, 
parties will be notified of the time and date for the hearing to be 
held at the U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20230 in a room to be determined.\18\
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    \17\ The Department is exercising its discretion under 19 CFR 
351.310(c) to alter the time limit for requesting a hearing.
    \18\ See 19 CFR 351.310(d).
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    The Department intends to issue the final results of these changed 
circumstances reviews, which will include its analysis of any written 
comments received, no later than 270 days after the date on which these 
reviews were initiated.
    If, in the final results of these reviews, the Department continues 
to determine that changed circumstances warrant the revocation of the 
Orders, in part, we will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to 
liquidate without regard to AD or CVD duties, and to refund any 
estimated AD or CVD duties, on all unliquidated entries of the 
merchandise covered by the revocation that are not covered by the final 
results of an administrative review or automatic liquidation.
    The current requirement for cash deposits of estimated AD and CVD 
duties on all entries of subject merchandise will continue unless they 
are modified pursuant to the final results of these changed 
circumstances reviews.
    These preliminary results of reviews and notice are in accordance 
with sections 751(b) and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.221 and 19 
CFR 351.222.

    Dated: February 9, 2017.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2017-03142 Filed 2-15-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P



                                                    10878                       Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 31 / Thursday, February 16, 2017 / Notices

                                                    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                  On April 20, 2016, the Department                       partially or fully assembled into other
                                                                                                            received a request on behalf of                         products, including building integrated
                                                    International Trade Administration                      PulseTech Products Corporation                          materials. For purposes of these orders,
                                                                                                            (‘‘PulseTech’’) for changed                             subject merchandise includes modules,
                                                    [A–570–010, C–570–011, A–583–853]                       circumstances reviews to revoke, in                     laminates and/or panels assembled in
                                                    Certain Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic                part, the Orders with respect to certain                the PRC consisting of crystalline silicon
                                                    Products From the People’s Republic                     stand-alone solar panels and certain                    photovoltaic cells produced in a
                                                    of China and From Taiwan: Preliminary                   solar panels incorporated in a specific                 customs territory other than the PRC.
                                                                                                            type of battery charging and maintaining                   Subject merchandise includes
                                                    Results of Changed Circumstances
                                                                                                            unit.2 In subsequent submissions filed                  modules, laminates and/or panels
                                                    Reviews, and Intent To Revoke
                                                                                                            between May 12, 2016, and September                     assembled in the PRC consisting of
                                                    Antidumping Duty Orders and
                                                                                                            2, 2016, PulseTech modified the                         crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells of
                                                    Countervailing Duty Order in Part
                                                                                                            description of the exclusion request for                thickness equal to or greater than 20
                                                    AGENCY:   Enforcement and Compliance,                   solar panels incorporated in battery                    micrometers, having a p/n junction
                                                    International Trade Administration,                     charging and maintaining units. On                      formed by any means, whether or not
                                                    Department of Commerce.                                 September 6, 2016, SolarWorld                           the cell has undergone other processing,
                                                    SUMMARY: On April 20, 2016, the                         Americas, Inc. (‘‘Petitioner’’) stated that             including, but not limited to, cleaning,
                                                    Department of Commerce (the                             it agrees with the scope exclusion                      etching, coating, and/or addition of
                                                    ‘‘Department’’) received a request for                  language proposed by PulseTech.3                        materials (including, but not limited to,
                                                    revocation, in part, of the antidumping                 Ultimately, Pulsetech withdrew its                      metallization and conductor patterns) to
                                                    duty (‘‘AD’’) and countervailing duty                   request for changed circumstances                       collect and forward the electricity that
                                                    (‘‘CVD’’) orders on certain crystalline                 reviews with respect to the stand-alone                 is generated by the cell.
                                                    silicon photovoltaic products from the                  solar panels not incorporated in battery                   Excluded from the scope of these
                                                    People’s Republic of China (‘‘PRC’’) and                charging and maintaining units.4                        orders are thin film photovoltaic
                                                    the AD order on certain crystalline                        On November 2, 2016, the Department                  products produced from amorphous
                                                    silicon photovoltaic products from                      published the notice of initiation of the               silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride (CdTe),
                                                    Taiwan (collectively ‘‘Orders’’) with                   requested changed circumstances                         or copper indium gallium selenide
                                                    respect to certain solar panels. We                     reviews.5 Because the statement                         (CIGS). Also excluded from the scope of
                                                    preliminarily determine that the                        submitted by Petitioner in support of                   these orders are modules, laminates
                                                    producers accounting for substantially                  PulseTech’s Request did not indicate                    and/or panels assembled in the PRC,
                                                    all of the production of the domestic                   whether Petitioner accounts for                         consisting of crystalline silicon
                                                    like product to which the Orders pertain                substantially all of the domestic                       photovoltaic cells, not exceeding 10,000
                                                    lack interest in the relief provided by                 production of crystalline silicon                       mm2 in surface area, that are
                                                    the Orders with respect to certain solar                photovoltaic products, in the Initiation                permanently integrated into a consumer
                                                    panels that are incorporated in the                     Notice, we invited interested parties to                good whose function is other than
                                                    battery charging and maintaining units                  submit comments concerning industry                     power generation and that consumes the
                                                    described below. Accordingly, we                        support for the potential revocation, in                electricity generated by the integrated
                                                    intend to revoke, in part, the Orders as                part, as well as comments and/or factual                crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells.
                                                    to imports of certain solar panels that                 information regarding the changed                       Where more than one module, laminate
                                                    are incorporated in the battery charging                circumstances reviews. No comments or                   and/or panel is permanently integrated
                                                    and maintaining units, as described                     factual information were submitted by                   into a consumer good, the surface area
                                                    below. The Department invites                           any party.                                              for purposes of this exclusion shall be
                                                    interested parties to comment on these                                                                          the total combined surface area of all
                                                                                                            Scope of the AD and CVD Orders on                       modules, laminates and/or panels that
                                                    preliminary results.
                                                                                                            Certain Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic                are integrated into the consumer good.
                                                    DATES: Effective February 16, 2017.                     Products From the PRC                                   Further, also excluded from the scope of
                                                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                              The merchandise covered by these                      these orders are any products covered
                                                    Magd Zalok or Howard Smith, AD/CVD
                                                                                                            orders are modules, laminates and/or                    by the existing antidumping and
                                                    Operations, Office IV, Enforcement and
                                                                                                            panels consisting of crystalline silicon                countervailing duty orders on
                                                    Compliance, International Trade
                                                                                                            photovoltaic cells, whether or not                      crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells,
                                                    Administration, U.S. Department of
                                                                                                                                                                    whether or not assembled into modules,
                                                    Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue                      Photovoltaic Products From Taiwan: Antidumping          laminates and/or panels, from the PRC.6
                                                    NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone:                   Duty Order, 80 FR 8596 (Feb. 18, 2015).                    Merchandise covered by these orders
                                                    (202) 482–4162 or (202) 482–5193,                          2 See April 20, 2016 letter from PulseTech
                                                                                                                                                                    is currently classified in the
                                                    respectively.                                           Products Corporation Re: Resubmission of Requests
                                                                                                            for Changed Circumstances Review—Certain                Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
                                                    Background                                              Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Products from the      United States (‘‘HTSUS’’) under
                                                                                                            People’s Republic of China and from Taiwan              subheadings 8501.61.0000,
                                                       On February 18, 2015, the Department                 (‘‘PulseTech’s Request’’).
                                                    published an AD order on crystalline                       3 See September 6, 2016 letter from Petitioner Re:
                                                                                                                                                                    8507.20.8030, 8507.20.8040,
                                                    silicon photovoltaic products from                      Certain Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Products       8507.20.8060, 8507.20.8090,
                                                                                                            from the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan:         8541.40.6020, 8541.40.6030, and
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    Taiwan, and AD and CVD orders on
                                                                                                            Changed Circumstances Review Request—Letter of
                                                    crystalline silicon photovoltaic products               No Opposition.                                             6 See Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells,
                                                    from the PRC in the Federal Register.1                     4 See PulseTech’s October 28, 2016 submission.
                                                                                                                                                                    Whether or Not Assembled into Modules, from the
                                                                                                               5 See Certain Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic       People’s Republic of China: Amended Final
                                                      1 See Certain Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic        Products from the People’s Republic of China and        Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value,
                                                    Products from the People’s Republic of China:           from Taiwan: Notice of Initiation of Changed            and Antidumping Duty Order, 77 FR 73018 (Dec.
                                                    Antidumping Duty Order; and Amended Final               Circumstances Reviews, and Consideration of             7, 2012); Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells,
                                                    Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and       Revocation of the Antidumping and Countervailing        Whether or Not Assembled into Modules, from the
                                                    Countervailing Duty Order, 80 FR 8592 (Feb. 18,         Duty Orders in Part, 81 FR 78967 (Nov. 10, 2016)        People’s Republic of China: Countervailing Duty
                                                    2015); see also Certain Crystalline Silicon             (‘‘Initiation Notice’’).                                Order, 77 FR 73017 (Dec. 7, 2012).



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                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 31 / Thursday, February 16, 2017 / Notices                                                10879

                                                    8501.31.8000. These HTSUS                               scope of this order are modules,                      domestic like product have expressed a
                                                    subheadings are provided for                            laminates, and panels produced in the                 lack of interest in the order. Section
                                                    convenience and customs purposes; the                   PRC from crystalline silicon                          351.222(g) of the Department’s
                                                    written description of the scope of this                photovoltaic cells produced in Taiwan                 regulations provides that the
                                                    order is dispositive.                                   that are covered by an existing                       Department will conduct a changed
                                                    Scope of the AD Order on Certain                        proceeding on such modules, laminates,                circumstances review under 19 CFR
                                                    Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic                        and panels from the PRC.                              351.216, and may revoke an order (in
                                                                                                              Merchandise covered by this order are               whole or in part), if it concludes that: (i)
                                                    Products From Taiwan
                                                                                                            currently classified in the HTSUS under               Producers accounting for substantially
                                                       The merchandise covered by this                      subheadings 8501.61.0000,                             all of the production of the domestic
                                                    order is crystalline silicon photovoltaic               8507.20.8030, 8507.20.8040,                           like product to which the order pertains
                                                    cells, and modules, laminates and/or                    8507.20.8060, 8507.20.8090,                           have expressed a lack of interest in the
                                                    panels consisting of crystalline silicon                8541.40.6020, 8541.40.6030, and                       relief provided by the order, in whole or
                                                    photovoltaic cells, whether or not                      8501.31.8000. These HTSUS                             in part; or (ii) if other changed
                                                    partially or fully assembled into other                 subheadings are provided for                          circumstances sufficient to warrant
                                                    products, including building integrated                 convenience and customs purposes; the                 revocation exist. Both the Act and the
                                                    materials.                                              written description of the scope of this
                                                       Subject merchandise includes                                                                               Department’s regulations require that
                                                                                                            order is dispositive.                                 ‘‘substantially all’’ domestic producers
                                                    crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells of
                                                    thickness equal to or greater than 20                   Scope of Changed Circumstances                        express a lack of interest in the order for
                                                    micrometers, having a p/n junction                      Reviews                                               the Department to revoke the order, in
                                                    formed by any means, whether or not                                                                           whole or in part.8 The Department has
                                                                                                              PulseTech requests that the                         interpreted ‘‘substantially all’’ to
                                                    the cell has undergone other processing,                Department revoke the Orders, in part,
                                                    including but not limited to, cleaning,                                                                       represent producers accounting for at
                                                                                                            to exclude certain solar panels                       least 85 percent of U.S. production of
                                                    etching, coating, and/or addition of                    incorporated in battery charging and
                                                    materials (including, but not limited to,                                                                     the domestic like product.9
                                                                                                            maintaining units, as described below.
                                                    metallization and conductor patterns) to                The solar panels subject to PulseTech’s                  The Department’s regulations do not
                                                    collect and forward the electricity that                request are:                                          specify a deadline for the issuance of
                                                    is generated by the cell.                                                                                     the preliminary results of a changed
                                                       Modules, laminates, and panels                          (1) Less than 300,000 mm2 in surface area;         circumstances review, but provide that
                                                                                                            (2) less than 27.1 watts in power; (3) coated
                                                    produced in a third-country from cells                  across their entire surface with a
                                                                                                                                                                  the Department will issue the final
                                                    produced in Taiwan are covered by this                  polyurethane doming resin; and (4) joined to          results of review within 270 days after
                                                    order. However, modules, laminates,                     a battery charging and maintaining unit               the date on which the changed
                                                    and panels produced in Taiwan from                      (which is an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene          circumstances review is initiated.10 The
                                                    cells produced in third-country are not                 (‘‘ABS’’) box that incorporates a light               Department did not issue a combined
                                                    covered by this order.                                  emitting diode (‘‘LED’’)) by coated wires that        notice of initiation and preliminary
                                                       Excluded from the scope of this order                include a connector to permit the                     results. As discussed above, the
                                                    are thin film photovoltaic products                     incorporation of an extension cable. The              statement provided by Petitioner and
                                                    produced from amorphous silicon (a-Si),                 battery charging and maintaining unit                 offered in support of PulseTech’s
                                                    cadmium telluride (CdTe), or copper                     utilizes high-frequency triangular pulse
                                                                                                            waveforms designed to maintain and extend
                                                                                                                                                                  Request did not indicate whether
                                                    indium gallium selenide (CIGS). Also                    the life of batteries through the reduction of        Petitioner accounts for substantially all
                                                    excluded from the scope of this order                   lead sulfate crystals. The above-described            domestic production of certain
                                                    are crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells,             battery charging and maintaining unit is              crystalline silicon photovoltaic
                                                    not exceeding 10,000 mm2 in surface                     currently available under the registered              products.11 Thus, the Department did
                                                    area, that are permanently integrated                   trademark ‘‘SolarPulse.’’                             not determine in the Initiation Notice
                                                    into a consumer good whose function is                                                                        that producers accounting for
                                                    other than power generation and that                    Preliminary Results of Changed                        substantially all of the production of the
                                                    consumes the electricity generated by                   Circumstances Reviews, and Intent To                  domestic like product lacked interest in
                                                    the integrated crystalline silicon                      Revoke the Orders, in Part                            the continued application of the Orders
                                                    photovoltaic cells. Where more than one                    Pursuant to section 751(d)(1) of the               as to the certain solar panels under
                                                    cell is permanently integrated into a                   Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the                   consideration here. Further, the
                                                    consumer good, the surface area for                     ‘‘Act’’), and 19 CFR 351.222(g), the                  Department requested interested party
                                                    purposes of this exclusion shall be the                 Department may revoke an AD or CVD                    comments on the issue of domestic
                                                    total combined surface area of all cells                order, in whole or in part, based on a                industry support of a potential partial
                                                    that are integrated into the consumer                   review under section 751(b) of the Act                revocation of the Orders.12 The
                                                    good.                                                   (i.e., a changed circumstances review).
                                                       Further, also excluded from the scope                Section 751(b)(1) of the Act requires a                 8 See section 782(h) of the Act and 19 CFR
                                                    of this order are any products covered                  changed circumstances review to be                    351.222(g).
                                                    by the existing antidumping and                         conducted upon receipt of a request
                                                                                                                                                                    9 See Honey from Argentina; Antidumping and

                                                    countervailing duty orders on                                                                                 Countervailing Duty Changed Circumstances
                                                                                                            which shows changed circumstances                     Reviews; Preliminary Intent to Revoke Antidumping
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells,                 sufficient to warrant a review. Section               and Countervailing Duty Orders, 77 FR 67790,
                                                    whether or not assembled into modules,                  782(h)(2) of the Act gives the                        67791 (November 14, 2012), unchanged in Honey
                                                    from the PRC.7 Also excluded from the                   Department the authority to revoke an                 From Argentina; Final Results of Antidumping and
                                                                                                                                                                  Countervailing Duty Changed Circumstances
                                                       7 See Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells,
                                                                                                            order if producers accounting for                     Reviews; Revocation of Antidumping and
                                                    Whether or Not Assembled into Modules, from the         substantially all of the production of the            Countervailing Duty Orders, 77 FR 77029
                                                    People’s Republic of China: Amended Final                                                                     (December 31, 2012).
                                                                                                                                                                    10 19 CFR 351.216(e).
                                                    Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value,         Whether or Not Assembled into Modules, from the
                                                                                                                                                                    11 See Initiation Notice.
                                                    and Antidumping Duty Order, 77 FR 73018 (Dec.           People’s Republic of China: Countervailing Duty
                                                    7, 2012); Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells,       Order, 77 FR 73017 (Dec. 7, 2012).                      12 Id.




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                                                    10880                       Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 31 / Thursday, February 16, 2017 / Notices

                                                    Department received no comments                         merchandise subject to the changed                     this notice.17 Hearing requests should
                                                    concerning a lack of industry support                   circumstances review that were entered                 contain the following information: (1)
                                                    with respect to these changed                           or withdrawn from warehouse, for                       The party’s name, address, and
                                                    circumstances reviews.                                  consumption, on or after the date that                 telephone number; (2) the number of
                                                       As noted in the Initiation Notice,                   corresponds to the date suspension of                  participants; and (3) a list of the issues
                                                    PulseTech requested revocation of the                   liquidation first began in the relevant                to be discussed. Oral presentations at
                                                    Orders, in part, and supported its                      proceeding.14 If, at the time of the final             the hearing will be limited to issues
                                                    request. In light of PulseTech’s Request,               determinations, there have been                        raised in the briefs. If a request for a
                                                    Petitioner’s agreement with the scope                   completed administrative reviews of an                 hearing is made, parties will be notified
                                                    exclusion language proposed by                          order, then the partial revocation will be             of the time and date for the hearing to
                                                    PulseTech, and in the absence of any                    retroactively applied to unliquidated                  be held at the U.S. Department of
                                                    interested party comments received                      entries of merchandise subject to the                  Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
                                                    during the comment period, we                           changed circumstances reviews that                     NW., Washington, DC 20230 in a room
                                                    preliminarily conclude that changed                     were entered or withdrawn from                         to be determined.18
                                                    circumstances warrant revocation of the                 warehouse, for consumption, on or after                   The Department intends to issue the
                                                    Orders, in part, because the producers                  the day following the last day of the                  final results of these changed
                                                    accounting for substantially all of the                 period covered by the most recently                    circumstances reviews, which will
                                                    production of the domestic like product                 completed administrative review of the                 include its analysis of any written
                                                    to which the Orders pertain lack interest               applicable order. Specifically, under                  comments received, no later than 270
                                                    in the relief provided by the Orders with               this scenario, the partial revocation for              days after the date on which these
                                                    respect to certain solar panels                         merchandise subject to the AD orders                   reviews were initiated.
                                                    incorporated in battery charging and                    would be applied retroactively to                         If, in the final results of these reviews,
                                                    maintaining units, as described above.                  unliquidated entries of merchandise                    the Department continues to determine
                                                    We will consider comments from                          entered or withdrawn from warehouse,                   that changed circumstances warrant the
                                                    interested parties on these preliminary                 for consumption, on or after February 1,               revocation of the Orders, in part, we
                                                    results of reviews before issuing the                   2016, and the partial revocation for                   will instruct U.S. Customs and Border
                                                    final results of these reviews.13                       merchandise subject to the CVD order                   Protection to liquidate without regard to
                                                       Accordingly, we are notifying the                    would be applied retroactively to                      AD or CVD duties, and to refund any
                                                    public of our intent to revoke the                      unliquidated entries of merchandise                    estimated AD or CVD duties, on all
                                                    Orders, in part. We intend to carry out                 entered or withdrawn from warehouse,                   unliquidated entries of the merchandise
                                                    this revocation by including the                        for consumption, on or after January 1,                covered by the revocation that are not
                                                    following exclusion language in the                     2016, as applicable.                                   covered by the final results of an
                                                    scope of each of the Orders:                                                                                   administrative review or automatic
                                                       Additionally, excluded from the scope of             Public Comment                                         liquidation.
                                                    the order are solar panels that are: (1) Less              Interested parties are invited to                      The current requirement for cash
                                                    than 300,000 mm2 in surface area; (2) less              comment on these preliminary results of                deposits of estimated AD and CVD
                                                    than 27.1 watts in power; (3) coated across             reviews in accordance with 19 CFR                      duties on all entries of subject
                                                    their entire surface with a polyurethane                                                                       merchandise will continue unless they
                                                    doming resin; and (4) joined to a battery               351.309(c)(1)(ii). Case briefs may be
                                                    charging and maintaining unit (which is an              submitted no later than 14 days after the              are modified pursuant to the final
                                                    acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (‘‘ABS’’) box           date of publication of these preliminary               results of these changed circumstances
                                                    that incorporates a light emitting diode                results.15 Rebuttals to case briefs,                   reviews.
                                                    (‘‘LED’’)) by coated wires that include a               limited to issues raised in the case                      These preliminary results of reviews
                                                    connector to permit the incorporation of an             briefs, may be filed no later than seven               and notice are in accordance with
                                                    extension cable. The battery charging and               days after the due date for case briefs.16             sections 751(b) and 777(i) of the Act and
                                                    maintaining unit utilizes high-frequency                                                                       19 CFR 351.221 and 19 CFR 351.222.
                                                    triangular pulse waveforms designed to
                                                                                                            All submissions must be filed
                                                    maintain and extend the life of batteries               electronically using Enforcement and                     Dated: February 9, 2017.
                                                    through the reduction of lead sulfate crystals.         Compliance’s AD and CVD Centralized                    Ronald K. Lorentzen,
                                                    The above-described battery charging and                Electronic Service System (‘‘ACCESS’’).                Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement
                                                    maintaining unit is currently available under           ACCESS is available to registered users                and Compliance.
                                                    the registered trademark ‘‘SolarPulse.’’                at http://access.trade.gov and in the                  [FR Doc. 2017–03142 Filed 2–15–17; 8:45 am]
                                                       If we make a final determination to                  Central Records Unit, room B8024 of the                BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
                                                    revoke the Orders in part, then the                     main Department of Commerce
                                                    Department will apply this                              building. An electronically filed
                                                    determination to each order as follows.                 document must be received successfully                 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                                    If, at the time of the final                            in its entirety by ACCESS, by 5 p.m.
                                                    determinations, there have been no                      Eastern Time on the day it is due.                     National Institute of Standards and
                                                    completed administrative reviews of an                     Any interested party may request a                  Technology
                                                    order, then the partial revocation will be              hearing within 14 days of publication of
                                                                                                                                                                   Manufacturing Extension Partnership
                                                    applied to unliquidated entries of
                                                                                                              14 Suspension    of liquidation first began for
                                                                                                                                                                   Advisory Board
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                      13 See, e.g., Honey from Argentina; Antidumping       merchandise subject to the CVD order on June 10,       AGENCY: National Institute of Standards
                                                    and Countervailing Duty Changed Circumstances           2014; suspension of liquidation first began for
                                                                                                            merchandise subject to the AD orders on July 31,       and Technology, Commerce.
                                                    Reviews; Preliminary Intent to Revoke Antidumping
                                                    and Countervailing Duty Orders, 77 FR 67790,            2014.                                                  ACTION: Notice of open meeting.
                                                                                                              15 The Department is altering the deadline for the
                                                    67791 (November 14, 2012); Aluminum Extrusions
                                                    from the People’s Republic of China: Preliminary        submission of case briefs, as authorized by 19 CFR
                                                    Results of Changed Circumstances Reviews, and           351.309(c)(1)(ii).                                       17 The Department is exercising its discretion

                                                    Intent to Revoke Antidumping and Countervailing           16 The Department is altering the deadline for the   under 19 CFR 351.310(c) to alter the time limit for
                                                    Duty Orders in Part, 78 FR 66895 (November 7,           submission of rebuttal briefs, as authorized by 19     requesting a hearing.
                                                    2013); see also 19 CFR 351.222(g)(1)(v).                CFR 351.309(d)(1).                                       18 See 19 CFR 351.310(d).




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Document Created: 2018-02-01 15:02:15
Document Modified: 2018-02-01 15:02:15
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
DatesEffective February 16, 2017.
ContactMagd Zalok or Howard Smith, AD/CVD Operations, Office IV, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-4162 or (202) 482-5193, respectively.
FR Citation82 FR 10878 

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